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  4. CBP San Juan Seaport seizes hazardous holiday lights and toys

CBP San Juan Seaport seizes hazardous holiday lights and toys

Release Date
Mon, 12/19/2016

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of San Juan recently seized two shipments containing more than 1,400 hazardous toys and 3,500 unsafe Christmas light fixtures that arrived from China.  The combined value for both shipments was nearly $50,000.  

The toys were found to contain hazardous lead, which is unsafe for children, and the Christmas light fixtures violated federal safety regulations protecting against overheating and lacked features preventing fires or electric shocks. 

Holiday lights that failed to meet standards to prevent for fires and electric shocks
Holiday lights must meet standards to
prevent for fires and electric shocks

Working closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), both shipments were targeted for physical inspection.  After a joint exam was conducted, the CPSC laboratory analysis determined that the toys contained lead in excess of the limit which may be harmful to the health and safety of children and the lights did not undergo a valid evaluation for potential risk of fire, shock, and personal injury.

“This interagency collaboration between CPSC and CBP truly exemplifies working together as one U.S. Government at the border to protect American consumers,” stated Edward Ryan, Assistant Director of Trade for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “We’ll continue to leverage these agency partnerships to drive greater trade facilitation and product compliance to protect the public.”

For more on CBP’s trade enforcement mission please visit CBP Trade.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021